The Trump administration said it has canceled $400 million worth of taxpayer grants and contracts for Columbia University, saying the Ivy League school hasn’t done enough to protect its Jewish students.
The announcement came from the Justice, Education and Health and Human Services departments and the General Services Administration.
“Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”
Fridays’ decision comes four days after the administration’s task force notified Columbia University that it was facing a review.
The task force concluded that “chaos and antisemitic harassment” have plagued the university since anti-Israel protests broke out in the wake of the 2023 Hamas attack on the Jewish state.
Columbia, in a press statement Friday, said it would try to work with the feds to win back its funding.
“We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,” the school said.
Federal officials said their move against Columbia should be seen as a warning to other schools.
GSA said it will assist federal agencies in issuing stop work orders and terminations to shut down money flowing to Columbia.
Josh Greenbaum, a GSA official and member of the task force reviewing schools’ behavior, said the institutions need to realize that federal funding “is a privilege.”
“Columbia University, through their continued and shameful inaction to stop radical protestors from taking over buildings on campus and lack of response to the safety issues for Jewish students, and for that matter — all students — are not upholding the ideals of this administration or the American people,” he said.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have demonstrated as recently as this week, occupying a building and clashing with police.
Pro-Gaza encampments sprung up at schools across the country over the last 17 months, but Columbia’s clashes have drawn extra attention.
In April, the school became the focal point for nationwide anti-Israel protests as demonstrators occupied a campus building, protesting the school’s refusal to divest from investments in Israel.
Columbia’s president resigned last year amid criticism of her handling of the protests.
